Can Kentucky Basketball Go Undefeated?

The Kentucky Wildcats enter the 2014-15 NCAA Men’s Basketball season as close to a unanimous preseason #1 as a team can possibly get. The initial Associated Press poll had 52 voters tab the Wildcats as the top team in the nation, with just thirteen other votes going for another team (five for Arizona and eight for Wisconsin.) And there is certainly reason for Kentucky to be the early favorites. Last year’s championship runner-up returned both Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew to the lineup, as well as forward Alex Poythress and big man Willie Cauley-Stein. Alongside those returning stars, Kentucky brought in arguably the best freshman class in the country, headlined by power forward Trey Lyles, center Karl Towns, Jr. and guards Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis.

So the question on many fans’ minds is can Kentucky run the table this season and finish undefeated. The Wildcats began the season with an 85-45 win against the Grand Canyon Anteloupes in a game that was never a contest, but they struggled on Sunday in their second game of the year. Facing an overwhelming underdog in Buffalo, the Wildcats trailed by five entering the second half. They were able to put on a quick run to eventually win by 19, but the game was much closer than anyone had expected.

Kentucky also has one of the more difficult schedules this year with non-conference matchups against some of the premier ACC teams. In order to see if the team can make it undefeated, let’s view the Kentucky schedule and highlight some of their biggest games.

Kentucky will need to be on point Tuesday evening when they face off against the Kansas Jayhawks. KU is ranked 5th in the country so this will be a very early potential Final Four preview. Kansas vs. Kentucky basketball tickets currently have an average price of $302, but you can get in the door for much cheaper with tickets starting at just $38.

If you want to grab Kentucky vs. North Carolina basketball tickets, it is going to cost you. The matchup with the 6th ranked Tar Heels is the most expensive game on the Kentucky home schedule this year and if the Wildcats can get past the Jayhawks, it will be their next big test in their pursuit of an undefeated season. It will be the first game of the year for UNC against a ranked opponent so Kentucky may have a chance of catching them unprepared.

Kentucky’s annual meeting with Louisville comes just two weeks after their date with the Tar Heels. The Cardinals have a potential Wooden Award winner in Montrezl Harrell leading the team and will be a very difficult game on the road. At an average price of $450 for Kentucky vs. Louisville basketball tickets, this is the most expensive game of the year at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

Kentucky and Florida will meet twice this year, the first coming in Gainesville on February 7th. The road matchup will arguably be the most difficult game of the season for Kentucky, though if they do make it undefeated to their final game of the year, the Gators will be waiting and you can certainly expect the pressure to be fully mounting at that point for Kentucky.

In Gainesville, the average price for Kentucky vs. Florida basketball tickets is just $513, but the March 7th meeting at Rupp Arena currently has an average price almost four times that number at $588.